House debates

Wednesday, 9 November 2016

Personal Explanations

3:11 pm

Photo of Tanya PlibersekTanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

Photo of Tony SmithTony Smith (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

Does the member for Sydney claim to have been misrepresented?

Photo of Tanya PlibersekTanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | | Hansard source

I do, sadly, Mr Speaker. In question time today, the Leader of the House, as Minister representing the Minister for Education and Training, said when I was the Minister for Health I was responsible for the national housing affordability scheme, the NHAS, and that the largest accessor of it was international student accommodation. It will not surprise the House to note that as Minister for Health I was not responsible for housing programs, that there is no such thing as the national housing affordability scheme or NHAS—I assume he was talking about NRAS—and that he was absolutely wrong to say that the largest accessor of NRAS was international students. The largest accessors were seniors, people with a disability, sole parents, children and Indigenous Australians. The real shame of this is that this government's only housing policy is: 'Get rich parents.'

Photo of Tony SmithTony Smith (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The member for Sydney cannot debate the point of order. She will resume her seat.